Helsinki, Finland, 2016-04-29 10:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
STORA ENSO OYJ PRESS RELEASE 29 April 2016 at 11.00 EET
Stora Enso has successfully converted a fine paper machine at Varkaus Mill to produce virgin-fibre-based containerboard. Stora Enso invested EUR 110 million in the conversion work, which took place in 2015. Kraftliner production began in October 2015 and full production is expected in early 2017. The capacity of the Varkaus Mill will be about 390 000 tonnes of light-weight kraftliner per year.
Moreover, Stora Enso has built a new production line in Varkaus Mill that will make wooden building elements, laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The investment of EUR 43 million will further enhance Stora Enso’s position as a global provider of high quality engineered wooden elements. The production is scheduled to begin in June 2016, and the estimated yearly capacity will be around 100 000m3.
“Both investments in Varkaus are part of Stora Enso’s transformation into a customer-focused renewable materials company,” says Karl-Henrik Sundström, CEO of Stora Enso. “By converting the fine paper mill into a kraftliner mill we are responding to the increasing global market need for renewable packaging, while the new LVL production line will meet the growing need for sustainable wood products for construction and industrial applications.”
The renewed mill directly employs some 400 people and the estimated total employment impact for the Varkaus region is 1 600 FTEs. The investments in Varkaus will increase the demand for softwood raw material by about 1.3 million cubic metres.
For further information, please contact:
Ulrika Lilja, EVP, Communications, tel. +46 72 221 9228
Liisa Nyyssönen, SVP Finnish Media, tel. +358 40 544 3491
Photos of the products and Varkaus Mill are available at http://bmt.storaenso.com/l/Z5Dbdbf6789P
Please copy and paste the link into your web browser.
Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper on global markets. Our aim is to replace fossil based materials by innovating and developing new products and services based on wood and other renewable materials. We employ some 26 000 people in more than 35 countries, and our sales in 2015 were EUR 10.0 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY) on the International OTCQX over-the-counter market. storaenso.com
STORA ENSO OYJ